Processing vessel

ABSTRACT

A tank having an agitator therein comprised of a plurality of plates horizontally mounted on a support rod urged to one side of the tank by a resilient member coupling the bottom of the support rod to a plinth. One of the plates extends beyond the other plates so that its forward projecting portion lies beneath an inlet in the top of the tank through which photographic material mounted in a frame is inserted so that the bottom of the frame pushes the plate down moving the other plates and the support rod away from the side of the tank thus agitating the processing liquid in the tank. The resilient member urges the rod back towards the side of the tank thus causing the plates to further agitate the liquid. The rod can either be rigid with a flexible resilient coupling to the plinth or be rigidly coupled to the plinth and made of flexible material. In one embodiment of the invention the agitator is made of material which is buoyant relative to the processing liquid, a lid to the tank being provided to prevent the agitator emerging therefrom.

Be'cheiraz [451' Jan. 21, 1975 PROCESSING VESSEL [75] Inventor: Joseph Be'cheiraz,Marly,

Switzerland [73] Assignee: Ciba-Geigy AG, Basel, Switzerland [22] Filed: Feb. 14, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 332,379

30 Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 14, 1972 Switzerland 2099/72 [52] US. Cl. 259/19, 259/99 [51] Int. Cl B01f 11/00 [58] Field of Search 259/1, 2, 4, 19, 27, 99, 259/112, 113, 114; 95/99 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,220,567 11/1940 Wright 95/99 2,281,094 4/1942 Chambers 259/113 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Jenkins Assistant ExaminerRobert Pous I Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack [57] ABSTRACT A tank having an agitator therein comprised of a plurality of plates horizontally mounted on a support rod urged to one side of the tank by a resilient member coupling the bottom of the support rod to a plinth. One of the plates extends beyond the other plates so that its forward projecting portion lies beneath an inlet in the top of the tank through which photographic material mounted in a frame is inserted so that the bottom of the frame pushes the plate down moving the other plates and the support rod away from the side of the tank thus agitating the processing liquid in the tank. The resilient member urges the rod back towards the side of the tank thus causing the plates to further agitate the liquid.

The rod can either be rigid with a flexible resilient coupling to the plinth or be rigidly coupled to the plinth and made of flexible material. In one embodiment of the invention the agitator is made of material which is buoyant relative to the processing liquid, a lid to the tank being provided to prevent the agitator emerging therefrom.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PROCESSING VESSEL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a photographic processing vessel in which material to be processed rapidly is immersed in the vessel and agitated by a removable agitator.

A minimum of motion of the processing liquid in rapid processing vessels must be maintained in order to compensate for differences in temperature and concentration within the liquid in the vessel so as to ensure the most uniform processing possible of the material. The kind and intensity of motion of the processing fluid may be varied within wide limits depending on the processing system, the material to be processed and the kind of processing liquid.

PRIOR ART Some forms of known apparatus are provided with an agitator mechanism which is either driven constantly or intermittently by a motor. In other systems a circulating pump maintains constant circulation of the processing fluid in the vessel. Other known devices have an injector which extends into the vessel for injecting gases, more particularly air, into the processing liquid. The prior art also discloses devices in which a circulating pump as well as an agitator are provided.

Apart from the technical expense involved in such known devices most of these provide adequate motion in the processing fluid for uniform processing of the material but this motion reduces the life of the processing liquid. This applies particularly to photographic solutions, particularly developers, used in automatic rapid processing systems.

The total processing time in such a system usually amounts to less than minutes and is often between 2 and 5 minutes. To achieve such a short processing time, the photographic solutions are usually highly concentrated and are maintained at an elevated temperature, for example between 25 and 40C by means of a heating jacket or a similar device. The elevated temperature may readily result in a temperature difference within one and the same solution. It is possible for these temperature differences to be compensated by means of an agitator but an agitator would also cause premature ageing of the highly concentrated photographic solution which would thus be rendered useless. On the other hand simply immersing the photographic mate rial to be treated in such a rapid processing system would be insufficient to induce motion in the photographic solution to avoid concentration differences and ensure uniformity of processing.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a processing vessel in which motion of the processing liquid is ensured with the simplest possible maintenance-free construction, such motion being adequate for uniform processing without being too vigorous for the processing liquid thus ensuring a long life for the liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The proposed processing vessel according to the invention includes an agitator which is retained in the vessel so as to be freely movable against the action of a restoring force and a member coupled to the agitator, the member projecting into the path of the material as it is immersed in the liquid within the vessel so that the agitator is moved solely by the material as it is immersed to agitate the liquid.

Preferably the agitator has at least two spaced apart plates coupled to each other to perform a common motion, one of the plates forming said member extending into the aforementioned path so that both plates are moved by the material as it is immersed in the liquid. In this construction, the lower of the two plates is of a larger size than the upper one. The plates may be mounted on a support extending transversely to the plates and anchored on aplinth, the support being resiliently deflectable relative to the plinth from a position of rest.

An equally simple construction forms another preferred embodiment in which the agitator insert in its entirety is constructed of a material which is buoyant with respect to the processing liquid, means being provided to prevent the agitator from'rising out of the vessel. In this embodiment, the material to be treated strikes the agitator on being immersed and immerses the latter further and therefore sets it into motion so that the processing liquid is also set into motion. The support on which the plates are mounted may be a rigid rod attached to the plinth by means of a resiliently bendable connecting element. The support itself may however also be constructed as a resiliently bendable rod. Since the material is usually immersed in the vessel in a vertical plane it is advantageous to mount the plates parallel to each other and substantially horizontally.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings,

FIG. 1 shows in perspective. a photographic processing tank and a partial cut away view showing an agitator in the tank,

FIG. 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a modified form of agitator, and

FIG. 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of FIGS.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 and 2 show a photographic processing tank 10 having an exterior 12, a bottom 13, and a top which is closed by a lid 11 having a slit 14 through which the material to be treated, in this case photographic film material, is to be immersed along the path indicated by the arrows 25. A removable agitator 15, substantially comprising an approximately perpendicularly extending rod 16 is disposed in the interior of the tank 10, transversely extending plates l7, l8, l9 and 20 being mounted on the rod at a distance from each other. The rod 16 is connected via a resiliently bendable coupling element 21 to a plinth 22 of the agitatorlS, the connecting element 21 being a piece of plastics tube --as may be seen by reference to FIG. 2 which is drawn over the lower end of the rod 16 as well as over a pin 29 which is firmly anchored in the plinth 22. Theplinth 22 is also constructed in the form of a plate and is bent downwardly on that side of the plinthwhich is opposite to the pin, this feature being indicated by the reference numeral 23, so that a wedge-shaped spaceg24 is formed below the plinth 22, the space being substantially separated from the remainder of the interior of the tank 10. The plinth 22 is inclined on the bottom 13 of the vessel due to the downwardly bent side 23 resulting in the resilient connecting element 21 urging the rod 16 towards the rear wall 28 of the tank 10, so that the rear edge of the uppermost plate 20 of the agitator preferably abuts against the aforementioned rear wall.

If photographic film material 26 mounted in a handling frame is inserted by means of a hanger 27 along the immersion path 25 into the tank filled with processing liquid 30 (for example with developer or a fixer) and is moved up and down after insertion, the up and down motion will be transmitted to the plate 17 and therefore to the support 16 and to the remaining plates 18-20 which will then perform a kind of nodding motion in the liquid 30. FIG. 2 shows the inoperative position of the agitator in solid lines and broken lines show the position of maximum deflection of the agitator. The nodding motions of the plates 17-20 may be compared with the swimming motions of the tin of a fish and impart to the liquid 30 a gentle motion adequate to move the entire liquid content of the tank 10. This motion is sufficient to ensure uniform processing of the photographic material 26. As soon as the photographic material is removed from the tank 10, the agitator returns to its inoperative position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2 and the motion in the processing fluid 30 comes to a stop. Any residue from processing, for example sludge or precipitated reaction products may then settle on the top of the plinth 22 from where they will be displaced during the next movements of the agitator 15 into the wedge-shaped space 24 below the plinth where they can no longer be agitated.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is of a similar construction to that of FIGS. 1 and 2. The basic difference is that the agitator is constructed in its entirety of a material which is buoyant in the processing liquid 30 and has a support 116 for the plates 17 to 20, which is constructed in its entirety as a flexible rod. The upper end of the rod 116 abuts against the underside of the lid 11 when the agitator is in its inoperative state. The plate 18 extends out into the path of immersion of the photographic material which is introduced on the hanger 27 into the tank 10, the path being indicated by the double arrow 25. In this embodiment movement of the agitator 15 resulting from the photographic material 26 being brought to bear upon the plate 18 is more marked than in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 because the entire agitator is initially moved downwardly in the tank while the support 116 is simultaneously flexed. As may be seen by reference to FIG. 4, the plates 18, 19 and 20 perform distinct fanning motions while the plate 17 disposed below the plate 18 performs a motion which substantially consists of a displacement parallel to itself. It follows from this that the motion of the processing liquid performed by the agitator 15 in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 is most marked in the upper part of the tank 10 which contains the photographic material to be processed. Below the plate 18 the motion resulting from deflection of the agitator 15 is less marked and just sufficient to ensure sufficient exchange of processing liquid between the lower and the upper parts of the tank 10. A kind of sludge pocket in which processing residue may settle is also formed below the plinth 22 in this embodiment by the bent side 23 of the plinth 22.

In the illustrated embodiments the shape of the plates 17-20 is substantially the same as that of the internal cross-section of the tank 10 but there must be sufficient clearance between the edges of the plates l7-20 and the internal wall of the tank 10 to allow deflection of the agitator. If smaller plates are used they can be kept in a central position in the tank by providing a small clearance between the edges of the plinth 22 and the internal wall of the tank.

While the agitator plates 17-20 of the illustrated embodiments are flat and are disposed parallel to each other they may also be provided with ribs or apertures or both and/or may also be disposed non-parallel with respect to each other, depending on the motion which is to be produced in the processing liquid 30 by the agitator.

The agitator 15 in its entirety must be constructed of materials which are compatible with the kind of processing liquid 30 used. Plastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, plexiglas, bacelite, polyester, polyamide, and epoxy resins are particularly suitable for photographic processing liquids. Provided the processing liquid is not corrosive, it is also possible to use stainless steel as a material for the agitator 15. The resilient connecting element 21 may be a spiral spring in place of the plastics tube provided the material of such spring is compatible with the processing liquid 30.

In view of the small forces which the agitator is required to absorb it is also possible for the latter to be constructed in a very simple manner. The plates 17-20 may be simply press fitted on the rod 16 or 116 without any other form of fastening. This construction offers an additional advantage that the position of the plates relative to each other and relative to the interior of the tank may be varied without any additional aids. The number of plates in this construction may also be varied in accordance with the intended application or in accordance with the desired agitation which is to be produced in the processing liquid 30.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in which the agitator is constructed of buoyant material the support 116 takes the form of a resiliently bendable rod. It will be understood that a connecting element 21 which is resilient to bending and is as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 2 may also be provided for this embodiment.

An effect similar to that of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 may also be obtained for the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. This is achieved by inserting a compression spring in the wedge-shaped gap 24 below the plinth 22, the spring tending to thrust the agitator l5 upwards.

It is also understood that the position of the plate which receives the bottom edge'of the holder of the photographic material depends mainly on the depth to which the material must be immersed so that the whole of the material is processed. If all remaining plates were disposed below the aforementioned plate the motion produced by the aforementioned plate in the processing liquid is sufficient to ensure uniform processing.

What is claimed is:

1. A processing vessel comprising a tank and agitator means disposed therein, said tank including an inlet for the introduction of photographic material into a liquid held in said tank, means defining a path of travel for said photographic material when said photographic material is introduced in said tank, said agitator means comprising agitating vane means for agitating said liquid, means for biasing said agitator means into a predetermined position within said tank, and means extending into said path of travel for deflecting said agitator 'means from said predetermined position upon introduction of photographic material into said tank, whereby said vane means cause agitation of said liquid.

2. A vessel according to claim 1 wherein said agitating means includes a first plate and said agitating moving means includes a second plate mounted a predetermined distance from said first plate and coupled thereto.

3. A vessel according to claim 2 wherein said second plate is larger than said first plate.

4. A vessel according to claim 1 wherein said agitating vane means comprises a plurality of plates spaced apart and coupled together one above the other, and said deflecting moving means includes a further plate larger than the plates of said plurality and coupled thereto, the larger plate being disposed below said inlet.

5. A vessel according to claim 1 wherein said'agitating vane means comprises a support member, a plurality of plates mounted on said support member one above the other and transverse to said support member, a plinth and means securing said support member to said plinth.

6. A vessel according to claim 5 wherein said'biasing means comprises said support member.

7. A vessel according to claim 5 wherein said securing means comprises said support member.

8. A vessel according to claim 5 wherein one of said plates is larger than the other plates so that a portion of said one plate projects beyond said other plates below said inlet and comprises said deflecting means.

9. A vessel according to claim 1 wherein the agitating vane means comprises a support member and a plurality of plates mounted on said support member one above the other and parallel to each other, said plates having a shape similar to that of the horizontal crosssection of said tank.

10. A processing vessel comprising a tank and a removable agitator therein, said tank including an inlet for the introduction of material into a processing liquid held in said tank, and said agitator including means for agitating liquid in the tank, resilient means urging said agitating means to a predetermined position in said tank, and means operable by immersion of said material into said liquid via said inlet to move said agitating means from said predetermined position causing agitation of said liquid whereby said resilient means urges said agitating means back towards said predetermined position causing further agitation of said liquid, said agitator being made of material that is buoyant with respect to the processing liquid, and said tank including means for preventing said agitator from emerging from the tank when full of processing liquid. 

1. A processing vessel comprising a tank and agitator means disposed therein, said tank including an inlet for the introduction of photographic material into a liquid held in said tank, means defining a path of travel for said photographic material when said photographic material is introduced in said tank, said agitator means comprising agitating vane means for agitating said liquid, means for biasing said agitator means into a predetermined position within said tank, and means extending into said path of travel for deflecting said agitator means from said predetermined position upon introduction of photographic material into said tank, whereby said vane means cause agitation of said liquid.
 2. A vessel according to claim 1 wherein said agitating means includes a first plate and said agitating moving means includes a second plate mounted a predetermined distance from said first plate and coupled thereto.
 3. A vessel according to claim 2 wherein said second plate is larger than said first plate.
 4. A vessel according to claim 1 wherein said agitating vane means comprises a plurality of plates spaced apart and coupled together one above the other, and said deflecting moving means includes a further plate larger than the plates of said plurality and coupled thereto, the larger plate being disposed below said inlet.
 5. A vessel according to claim 1 wherein said agitating vane means comprises a support member, a plurality of plates mounted on said support member one above the other and transverse to said support memBer, a plinth and means securing said support member to said plinth.
 6. A vessel according to claim 5 wherein said biasing means comprises said support member.
 7. A vessel according to claim 5 wherein said securing means comprises said support member.
 8. A vessel according to claim 5 wherein one of said plates is larger than the other plates so that a portion of said one plate projects beyond said other plates below said inlet and comprises said deflecting means.
 9. A vessel according to claim 1 wherein the agitating vane means comprises a support member and a plurality of plates mounted on said support member one above the other and parallel to each other, said plates having a shape similar to that of the horizontal cross-section of said tank.
 10. A processing vessel comprising a tank and a removable agitator therein, said tank including an inlet for the introduction of material into a processing liquid held in said tank, and said agitator including means for agitating liquid in the tank, resilient means urging said agitating means to a predetermined position in said tank, and means operable by immersion of said material into said liquid via said inlet to move said agitating means from said predetermined position causing agitation of said liquid whereby said resilient means urges said agitating means back towards said predetermined position causing further agitation of said liquid, said agitator being made of material that is buoyant with respect to the processing liquid, and said tank including means for preventing said agitator from emerging from the tank when full of processing liquid. 